Nuts and Bolts: Bigstock Guidelines

As you know, Greeting Card Universe, in partnership with Bigstock, has offered artists a new opportunity to use stock pictures for greeting cards. If Approved, these cards are automatically entered into a special category, Collections > Off the Cuff Greetings. Your design may be permitted in other categories, too – see below.

Shoppers are already finding and purchasing those cards already made by artists during the open beta process, so well done, participants!

We’ve been previously restricted to just 10 cards per artist. Today, GCU is announcing that the limit is being lifted. Artists are now free to make as many cards as they like. Before you jump on the bandwagon, here are the GUIDELINES you must keep in mind per Mindy.

BTW, if you need to report a bug, please don’t do so here. Instead, make a post in the GCU Forum where it’s more likely to be seen by someone who can help.

Ideal and Encouraged Cards to Create

Choose categories with few to zero cards that serve niche occasions.

Card design MUST add value and be different than cards in the same category, not more of the same. Be clever, be creative, be original.

Also research the stock cards already created to take note of stock images that have already been used in the same way/occasion. If the image has been used, ensure your design is significantly different and ideally, for another occasion. See this example of three cards using the same image, each a little different than the others, and each for a different occasion.

Some stock images may not be suitable without extra manipulation. If your chosen image doesn’t work, move on and find another image.

Take Care with Your Submissions

All the usual Submission Guidelines apply. In addition, GCU can Decline cards for any reason.

To speed up Review times, make good use of the Notes to Reviewers field. For example, make a note of the intended category, full bleed intent, created for a Wanted Cards post on the Forum, etc.

Images cannot be Returned for Edits. If Declined by a Reviewer, you will need to recreate the card – making the necessary edits – and resubmit.

Most stock card creations will not be in their functional categories, but rely on their metadata (descriptive title, keywords, Artist’s Notes) for shoppers to find them in a search. Exercise care.

If you continue to have cards Declined due to repeated errors, GCU can revoke your use of the service. If repeated submissions are Declined based on lack of marketability, GCU can revoke your usage of the service.

Bigstock images may be taken down if necessary. Content contributors on Bigstock can choose to not participate in their Partner Program. GCU cards created using a stock image that has been removed from the service will be Declined and the artist will be notified of this action. Thank you for your understanding.

Cards can be declined for any reason – including no reason at all. The FAQs share: “Overall GCU Reserves the right to remove or decline any submissions for any reason: A card design can meet all the requirements and still lack impact, rendering it unmarketable in GCU’s market. The card needs to draw the eye, invoke feelings, and attract an interest in being purchased. Greeting Card Universe reserves the right to say No Thank You to any card, store, or artist which they feel are not a good fit for their market.”